Combined fluid pressure control valve device and gauge



April 26, 1955 H, c, MAY 2,705,995

COMBINED FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE DEVICE AND GAUGE Filed Nov. 9,1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l Iigl INVFJVTOR.

H C. M any hay ZQAM A 7' TORNE Y H. c. MAY 2,706,995

0L VALVE DEVICE AND GAUGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Harr CZ Ma =9 5ATTORNEY April 26, 1955 COMBINED FLUID PRESSURE CONTR Filed Nov. 9, 1949azi tates Patent Patented Apr, 2d, 1955 FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL DEVICEAND GAUGE Harry C. May, East McKeesport, Pa., assiguor to WestinghouseAir Brake ompany, a corporation of Pennsylvania CGMBINED VALVEApplication November 9, 1M9, Serial No. 126,412

2 Claims. (Cl. 137-4165) This invention relates to fluid pressurecontrol valve device and more particularly to means for supplying fluidreducing the line pressure downto that which it is de lated moisturetherein, and a pressure gauge of the Bourdon type is arranged toindicate the pressure acting on the The volume reservoir is for delayingincrease in pressure on the piston, when the operators cut-off valvedevice is opened and hence rapidly supplies iluid under res-sure to thereducing valve device, to such an extent as to permit said reducingvalve device to operate to cut oil supply of fluid under pressure tosaid piston before the pressure therein is increased to a degree inexcess of that desired. if the reservoir the pressure on the pistonwould excess of that desired before the reducing valve device couldoperate to limit such pressure. sure gauge is time.

From the vices, pipes wieldy and erable time maintain.

above it will be seen that and reservoir constitute an awkward, unmakeshift arrangement and requires considand labor to initially install andsubsequently the several device, embodying a pressure indicating meansbe dependable indefinitely, for use in place of and to accomplish thesame result as the several devices, pipes, reservoir and pressure gaugeabove described.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingmore detailed description of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings; Fig. l is a vertical view, mainly insection, of a sure indicating device embodying the invention; Figs. 2and 3 are sectional views taken on lines in Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is asectional view taken on the line 4--t in Fig. 2.

Description As shown in the drawing, the improved device comprises amain casing section 1 in one side of cup-shaped cavity containing asupporting the upper end of which is closed by a cove 3. 2 divides thecavity into an upper chamber 4 and a lower chamber 5. An annular airstrainer 6 disposed in chamber 4 and clamped between plate 2 and c aspace encircling said strainer and which 18 open to a passage '7 in thecover 3 from a space within said strainer which is open to a passage 8in said cover. The passage is adapted to be connected to a fluidpressure supply pipe 9 which may constitute a high pressure shop linetending through and upon flow of fluid therefrom passage 8 in the cover3, said strainer will remove foreign matter from the air stream.Condensate in the shop line entering chamber 4 will settle into chamber5 as by way of perforations 10 in plate 2. A drain cock to the bottom ofchamber 5 is densate therefrom. By removal of cover 6 can be removed forcleaning or replacement. or hose 12 may be conveying cleaned fluid atshop line pressure to a blow gun or the like (not shown).

At one side or cover 3 13 is secured to casing section 1 an clampedbetween the cover 13 and said is a flexible diaphragm 14 of aself-lapping fluid pressure regulating device 15. At one side of 'h isopen to at passage 17 in cover 13 while at the opposite side is acontrol chamber 18.

e casing section 1 has a bore arranged in coaxial diaphragm i4 and linedwith a bushing 19,

through strainer 6 to projects from the opposite face central openingsin diaphragm 14 tained in chamber 16 and a nut 24 engagement with saidextension contacts follower 23 for clamping the central portion of saiddiaphragm to said followers whereby said followers phragm. A pressureregulating spring 25 contained in chamber 16 bears at one end againstthe follower 23 while its opposite end is engaged by a follower 26 inturn engaged by an adjusting screw 2'7 aving screw-threaded engagementwith an element 23 secured in cover 13.

A plunger 29 is slidably mounted in bushing 19 below the end of thediaphragm follower sleeve-like extension 21,

ports 31 in bushing 19 circling said bushing to clearance space (not thefollower extension The plunger 29 comprises and 35 secured to each otherfor sliding movement in the bushing 19 and which parts cooperate to forma chamber 36 through one or more ports 37 in the plunger to an annularcavity 38 formed in the peripheral surface of said plunger. The cavity38 in turn is open through one or more ports 3, in bushing 19 to anannular cavity 40 encircling the passage 41 in the seals 42 carried bythe parts 34, 35 and having sealcontact with the wall of bushing 19 areso arranged as to prevent leakage of fluid under pressure past theperipheral surface of said parts from the cavity 38. fluid pressuresupply valve 43 contained in chamber 36 is arranged to cooperate with aseat provided on the plunger part 34 to close communication between saidchamber and chamber 36 by way of an axial bore 44 exsaid part. A lightbias spring 45 in chamber 36 acts on valve 43 for urging it into contactwith its seat. A relatively small pin 46 the bore fidhas one endconnected to the diaphragm follower extension cation between chamber 30and passageway 48 extending through said bias spring 49 in chamber 30supported at one end on plunger 29 21 for urging same in the directionto open communication past the release The lower end of plunger 29 issupported on one end of a screw 50 having screw-threaded engagement withan element 51 secured in the casing portion 1, said screw having at itsinner end a collar 50a adapted to engage said element to limit outwardmovement of said screw. A hand wheel 52 is connected to the opposite endof screw 50 outside of the casing.

In the cover 3 there is provided a ut-off valve device comprising asupply valve 53 contained in a chamber 54. Chamber 54 is open through apassage 55 to passage 8 and thence to the interior of the strainer 6 andthe valve 53 is arranged to cooperate with a seat 56 to closecommunication between said chamber and a chamber 57 which is openthrough passages 58 and 59 to passage 41 and thereby to chamber 36 inthe fluid pressure regulating device 15. Slidably mounted in the cover 3and extending into chamber 57 is a plunger 60 arranged upon inwardmovement to contact the supply valve 53 for moving it from seat 56. Abias spring 61 acts on the supply valve 53 for urging it into contactwith its seat. The plunger 60 has an axial bore 62 open outside of thecover to atmosphere and open through the end of said plunger in chamber57 to said chamber when said plunger is out of contact with said valve.Engagement of plunger 60 with valve 53 is adapted to close communicationbetween chamber 57 and atmosphere via the axial bore 62. A spring 63 inchamber 57 acts on plunger 60 to move it out of engagement with valve53.

A pin 64 carried by lugs 65 projecting from cover 3 carries a cam 66disposed for engagement with the exposed end of plunger 60. A handle 67is connected to the cam for turning it from an oil? position, in whichit is shown in the drawing, through an angle of 180 to an on position.In the ofl position of handle 67 and cam 66 the spring 63 is adapted tounseat plunger 60 from the supply valve 53 and permit seating of saidvalve by spring 61. In the on position the plunger 60 is adapted toengage and unseat the supply valve 53.

Holes 68a in the casing section 1 are provided for reception of bolts orstuds for mounting the device in a suitable wall or bracket.

Mounted over the adjusting screw 27 and against the cover 13 and securedin position by a nut 68 on said screw is a housing 69 of a pressuregauge, one side of which housing may be formed by a transparent elementor dial 70. Slidably mounted in an axial bore through the screw 27 is apush rod 71 the lower end of which is arranged for contact in chamber 16with the end of the follower stud like extension 22 while the upper endis disposed within the housing 69 for engagement by an adjusting screw72 carried intermediate the ends of a lever 73 which at one end isfulcrumed on a pin 74 secured to said housing. A bracket 75 secured tothe extends around to the front of the push rod 71 where one end of agauge hand 76 is journaled on a pin 77 secured to said bracket, a nut 78on said pin holding said hand thereon. The other end of the gauge handis pointed and adapted to move across a scale 79 which may be providedon the transparent element 70 and which is preferably graduated inpounds.

The free end of lever 73 is offset to carry an adjustable screw 80axially aligned with an edge of the hand 76, and having a ball-like end81 disposed in engagement with opposite side walls of a slot 82 providedin the edge of said hand at one side of its bearing pin 77. With thehand 76 in a vertical position an extension of the axis of screw 80 isadapted to intersect the axis of pin 77. A has spring 83 interposedbetween the housing 69 and lever 73 is constantly effective to urge pin72 against the push rod 71 and to hold said rod against the followerstud-like extension 22 and at the same time through the medium of screw80 correspondingly position the gauge hand 76 with respect to the scale79.

Removable screw-threaded plugs 84, 85 provide access through housing 69to screws 72, 80, respectively, for adjusting same.

After the parts of the improved device are assembled in the manner abovedescribed it is necessary first to ad ust the parts of the fluidpressure regulating device to compensate for variations in manufactureof said parts and to properly position the seat for the release valve 47relative thereto. This is accomplished by first backing screw 50 out ofthe casing section 1 until the collanSOa thereon engages the element 51,the plunger 29 being maintained in engagement with said screw by spring49, and the valves 43 and 47 moving with said plunger with the valve 43seated by spring 45. The adjusting screw 27 is then operated todisplace, through the medium of the fully extended regulating spring 25,the diaphragm 14 and followers 20 and 23 in the direction of the releasevalve 47 until the follower 20 is just on the verge of engaging saidrelease valve.

After the adjustments just described have been effected t is necessaryto adjust the gauge hand 76 to accurately indicate pressure present inpipe 33 and diaphragm chamber 18. To effect this latter adjustment thepipe 33 is connected to an accurately calibrated master gauge (notshown). Via pipe 9 the device is then connected to a source of fluid atrelatively high pressure, such as usually provided in a shop line, andthe opening in cover 3 to which pipe 12 is shown connected is plugged.

Handle 67 of the cutoff valve device is then turned to its on positionfor seating plunger 60 against valve 53 and for opening said valvewhereupon fluid under pressure from pipe 9 will flow through thestrainer device in chamber 4 to passage 8 and thence past said valve tochamber 57in the cut-off valve device and from said chamber 57 throughpassages 58, 59 and 41 to chamber 36 in plunger 29 of the fluid pressureregulating device 15, the valve 43 in chamber 36 being closed at thistime to prevent further flow of fluid under pressure.

The screw 50 will now be turned into the casing section 1 by hand wheel52, the plunger 29 and, due to action of spring 45, the supply andrelease valves 43 and 47, respectively, moving with said plungerrelative to dia- 14 and the seat on follower 20 for said release Finallythe release valve 47 will engage its seat on follower 20 and since thepressure of regulating spring 25 is greater than that of bias spring 45acting on the supply valve 43, movement of both of said valves willtemporarily cease as movement of the plunger 29 is continued by handwheel 52. Therefore upon further inward movement of plunger 29 by handwheel 52 said plunger will be moved out of seating engagement with thesupply valve 43 whereupon fluid under pressure from the supply pipe 9present in chamber 36 will flow past said valve to delivery chamber 30and thence to pipe 33 leading to the master gauge which will operate toindicate the pressure present in chamber 30.

When fluid under pressure is thus supplied to chamber 30 and pipe 33 itwill also equalize past the diaphragm follower extension 21 into chamber18 wherein it will act on diaphragm 14 to deflect said diaphragm againstthe opposing force of the regulating spring 25 in accordance with thepressure of such fluid, it being noted that under action of bias spring45 the release valve 47 will remain seated during such deflection andthat said valve and the supply valve 43 will move with said diaphragm.If inward movement of the regulating screw 50 and thereby of plunger 29is stopped fluid under pressure will continue to be supplied past theopen supply valve 43 until the diaphragm 14 deflects sufficiently topermit seating 0 said valve to terminate such supply whereupondeflection of the diaphragm 14 will cease with both said valve and therelease valve 47 closed and in a position corresponding to the pressureof fluid present in delivery chamber 30, pipe 33 and diaphragm chamber18.

For eifecting an initial adjustment of hand 76 of the pressure gauge itis desirable to provide in pipe 33 and hence diaphragm chamber 18 fluidat a mean of the pressure range of the gauge, that is, if the gauge isintended to register pressures between zero and pounds the mean desiredin pipe 33 and diaphragm chamber 18 will be 50 pounds.

If, due to operation of the hand wheel 52 and screw 50 the pressure inpipe 33 and diaphragm chamber 18, as indicated by the master gauge (notshown) connected to pipe 33, is less than 50 pounds, said screw willthen be turned further into the casing section 1 until the pressure insaid pipe and chamber is increased to 50 pounds, the diaphragm 14 andassociated followers as well as rod 71 assuming a position correspondingto such pressure in the same manner as above described. it the screw 50should be turned into the casing section 1 by hand wheel 52 so far as toprovide a pressure in pipe 33 and chamber 18 in excess of 50 pounds thensaid screw will be backed out of the casing slightly. The plunger 29will follow the screw 51 as it is backed out of the casing section, dueto pressure of fluid and of spring 49 in acting on said plunger, andsaid plunger will move the chamber 30 seated supply valve 43 which willpull. the release valve to operate by fluid under pressure, such forexample as from its seat. Fluid under pressure will then be rethe pistonof a fluid pressure actuated clutch which may leased from pipe 33 andchamber 18 and in accordance be employed for gripping and carrying anarticle to be with such re duction in pressure the regulating springworked on, and pipe 12 may be connected to the device 25 will deflectthe diaphragm 14 toward the release valve or the opening for said pipein said device may be 7 and eventually seat said valve to preventfurther replugged, as desired.

position of screw 50, 10 52 will then be adjusted as before described,to provide It will thus be seen that by suitable adjustment of screw inpipe 33 the desired pressure, indicated by the gauge 50 fluid at themean pressure above mentioned may be hand 76, for operating the clutchpiston. After the fluid obtained in pipe 33 and diaphragm chamber 18 tocorpressure regulating device is thus adjusted handle 67 of respondinglyposition the diaphragm 14, associated folthe cut-off valve device may beoperated to its off posilowers and push rod 71. 15 tion to permitclosing of supply valve 53 and unseating After fluid at the desired meanpressure, asindicated of plunger 60 from said valve for releasing fluidunder by the master gauge, is thus obtained in pipe 33 and pressure fromchamber 36 in plunger 29, whereupon fluid chamber 18, the adjustingscrew 72 in lever 73 is turned under pressure in pipe 33 and delivery'chamber 30 will to bring the gauge hand 76 into registry with the 50 atfirst blow the supply valve 43 from its seat to permit Wlth the hand 76thus positioned the ax1s of screw 80 and thence to atmosphere viaplunger 6h When a slight will i te t th t f th pin 77, reduction inpressure in chamber 18 is thus obtained regu- After screw 72 is adjustedas just mentioned, the preslating spring will expand and hold the supplyvalve sure of fluid in pipe 33 and diaphragm chamber 18 will 43 open topermit a complete release of fluid under presbe either increased ordecreased to any desired pressure 25 sure from pipe 33 and the clutchoperating piston. either side of the mean pressure. For example, it mayWith the pressure regulating valve device 15 once adbe increased to 80pounds as indicated by the master justed, as ust described, to providethe proper pressure with the 80 pound graduation on the scale 79. tronswill control operation of the clutch as desired to in the commercialmanufacture of springs, such as the grip and release articles asrequired during manufacture regulating spring 25, no two springs will beexactly alike th r f.

since there may be slight variations in the material from It is desiredto point out that when the handle 67 is which they are made anddimensions may vary slightly turned to its on position for supplyingfluid under presso that in order to use such springs for the purposeabove sure to operate the clutch piston a slight overcharging ofdescribed it is necessary to provide for adjustments to p pe 3 may t ndt Occur but this is of no consequence the particular spring 25 used inthe device in connection a degree for unseating the release valve 47 todissipate with initially locating the seat for the release valve 47 10Such excess pressure whereupon said diaphragm will be with respect tosaid valve. The screw 72 provides for P P Y Operated y p 25 to 01086 h lase alve adjusting the gauge hand 76 to its mean pressure posi- 47 and hdeslfed Pressure, indicated y gauge tion dependent upon the free heightof spring 25 and h d 1n the pipe 33 and on the clutch piston. thereforeits height when the fluid pressure regulating If tbelle Should belfiflkage 0f fluid under pr ss re past device is delivering fluid atmean pressure to pipe 33, the supply valve {13 to pipe 33, the tendencyto increase and the screw 80 provides for adjustment of the gauge t 6Pressure 111 Sald P P 1 Cause h diaphragm 14 to spring 25 issubstantially constant throughout full comdiaphragm 14 will permitspring 25 to unseat the supply the gauge hand 76 is accurately adjustedfor 80 pounds as words, the regulating device 15 will under allconditions above described, it will, with an equal degree of accuracyprovlde and ma1ntam in pipe 33 fluid at the d i ed on the scale 73indicate pressures in pipe 33 either side pressure as constantlyindicated by the gauge hand 76.

following the mean adjustment 1S necessary Summary I h b f d h th d aphagm 14 ll very lt w1ll now be seen that I have provided an improvedaccurately, and consistently over a long period of use, elatively simpledevice for providing clean fluid at any assume positions correspondingto different pressures of desired pressure for operating a selected devce nd fo fluid delivered to pipe 33 and that change in osition of 60releasing such fluid under pressure and for dependably said diaphragm isd rectly proportional to change in deindicating such pressure for anindefinite period of time. livered pressure. The vertical position ofpush rod 71 will aving now described the mventron what I claim as hencevary directly according to the position of dianew and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

phragm 14 and pressure delivered to pipe 33 but the an- 1. A fluidpressure regulating valve and pressure inwill become increasingly lessfor equal steps of movement ad ustable plunger, hand operated means foradjusting 01 said push rod 71 as the 3X18 of screw 80 moves in saidplunger, a pressure regulating spring, movable abuteither directionfurther away from the axis of screw 77. ment means arranged 1n coaxialrelation to said plunger T e graduation of scale 79 could be unequallyspaced to and sub ect to opposing ressures of fluld in a chamaccuratelyindicate correct pressures according to this ber, formed between anadjacent end and face of said change in angularity of the lever 73, butit is preferred plunger and movable abutment means, respectively, andthat such graduations be equally spaced so movement on of said springwhich spring urges said abutment means of screw 80 intersects that ofpin 77 in order to minimize to provide fluid in said chamber at apressure corre- 6 equal spacing of the graduations of scale 79 and whichingly positioning said abutment means against said spring or allpractical purposes will indicate with the desired a rod pro ecting fromsaid abutment means and movable degree of accuracy p1 essure present inpipe 33. therewith, a lever straddling the end of said rod oppositeAfter the device including the gauge hand 76 has been 80 said abutmentmeans, an adjusting screw in said lever adjusted as above described suchadiustment will remain intermediate the ends thereof engaging said endof said for an indefinite period of time and the device is ready rod,means providing a fixed fulcrum for one end of for use. said lever, apivoted pressure indicating gauge hand, an In use, the pipe 9 will beconnected to a shop line, the adjusting screw in the other end of saidlever connected pipe 33 will be connected to the device which it isdesired to said hand and adjustable to vary the eflective length of saidlever for operating said hand, the parts being so constructed andarranged that in one pressure indicating position of said handan'extension of the axis of the last named screw will intersect the axisof the pivot for said hand.

2. A fluid pressure regulating valve and pressure indicating devicecomprising a casing having a supply charn ber adapted to be connected toa source of fluid under pressure and having a fluid pressure deliverychamber, a supply valve for supplying fluid under pressure from saidsupply chamber to said delivery chamber, a release valve for releasingfluid under pressure from said delivery chamber, a seat for said supplyvalve, a movable abutment subject on one side to pressure of fluid insaid delivery chamber, a regulating spring acting at one end on theopposite side of said abutment operative upon a preponderance in forceover opposing force of pressure of fluid in said delivery chamber toefiect seating of said release valve and unseating of said supply valve,upon equalization of opposing forces on said abutment to effect seatingof both said release and supply valves, and upon reversal of saidpreponderance in force to efiect unseating of said release valve, aplunger mounted in said casing supporting said supply valve seat andmanually adjustable to adjust said seat relative to said abutmentaxially thereof, a spring seat engaged by the opposite end of saidregulating spring, an adjusting mem ber screw-threaded in said casingengaging and operative to adjust said spring seat relative to saidspring axially thereof, a rod projecting from said abutment means andmovable therewith, a lever straddling the end of said rod opposite saidabutment means, an adjusting screw in said leverintermediate the endsthereof engaging said end of said rod, means providing a fixed fulcrumfor one end of said lever, a p1 oted pressure indicating gauge hand, anadjusting screw 1n the other end of said lever connected to said handand adjustable to vary the effective length of said lever for operatingsaid hand, the

parts being so constructed and arranged that in one References Cited inthe file of this patent UNLTED STATES PATENTS Schmidt Jan. 20, 1874Snyder May 15, 1877 Cole Jan. 26, 1904 Kleinfeldt Sept. 6, 1904 BeckerAug. 31, 1926 Work Aug. 3, 1937 Manly Mar. 9, 1943 Huber Apr. 25, 1944Kelley Sept. 19, 1944 Turpin et a1 Oct. 10, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany1935

